THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15870, 9 April 1917, Page 2

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS.

OXFORD A. AND P. SHOW. The following are the winners in the most points competition at the Oxford Show on Thursday:— Oxford Jockey Club's Challenge Cup for most point ß in H S ht horso 6ectlon3 - A - A - Fantham. , , . . , , Mrs Gorton's Cup, for moat points an fa. sheep—Alex. Baxter. i-vtt _ The I'earr Cup (store steep)—J. O Hailoran. The John "Ingram Challenge Cup (purebred shee-o) —C. H. Ensor. The Home and Watson Cap (dairying section) —R. Peach. . , , District winner of most points- in cattle section—K. Davis. Poultry: E. Henry. Grain and seed: A. J. Cleeve. • Boots: L. 1. Wright. j - Mis W. G. Rudd's Cup (house and dairy section) —Miss Eliza. McCahon. Fruit—Mrs J.. O'Hallonui. Flowers —Mrs Alex. Baxter. Fancy Work—Miss E. Meyers. In the wcight-gne&sinp, the cxact weight of the eheep was 4021b, and G. Lilly and H. G. Parish tied, with 400lb. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. "I have no doubt that the visit of tho Hon. Mr Mac Donald has done a great deal to allay farmers' fears thas lr they clid manage to pu'o in wheat thoy would be unable to get it out again, owing to6carcity ot labour at harvest time," writes "Agricola'' in his South Island Notes in the "Farmers' Union Advocate." "The fact that the Government means to buy outright fls well as to free sufficient expert men from military sen'ice for the driving of teams and the managing of horses and implements lias done much to put a feeling of security in tho matter that was lacking a fow weeks ago. • The new price should repay farmers their trouble and outlay, provided that the season is a decent one, and the price of labour does not soar beyond ail reason. We must expect some increment, but there is such a thing as strangling an industry by high wages, no matter how good the values procured for the goods may be. It is difficult for growers to state whether the price is going to pay them till they have some idea as to wnat the cost of labour will be. It is, I know, very difficult for the Government or anyone else to fix the price of labour, particularly at such a time as this, when things are so uncertain. It might be done by an Arbitration award, but farmers aro not all anxious bring their industry, with its many difficulties, under an award. A farm cannot be run as a factory, at least, not an agricultural farm." OUST. A number of farmers met the Hon. W". D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture, in the reading-room here on Thursday evening, to. discuss the wheat question. After the Minister haxl placed the position clearly before those present, it was fully realised that the situation was very serious, and there was no doubt that all wheat growers in the room resolved to do their very best in the matter of wheat production, but at present tho outlook is far from appearing satisfactory. Wheat land that should have been under tho plough weeks back is still in grass, and as hard as an ordinary road, and winter is close at hand. Should the winter como in very wet all the fine wheatgrowing downs lands would become unworkable, making spring sowing the only cha,nco left, and it is doubtful whether many farmers aro in a position to take such a risk, after two such disastrous seasons as they have just passed. through. Spring sown wheat for tho two last seasons has been an absolute failure, returning no moro than the cost of seed and manure. However, prospects may prove better than they appear at present; the district is capable of growing big crops when tho seasons are normal. | OHOKA. At Ohoka to-day a big carnival is to be held in aid of patriotic funds. This is by way of windup of the Queen contest, which has been waged between the supporters of the three queen candidates, of Ohoka, Svvannanoa, ' and Tuahiwi, for the past few months. Special features of to-day's gathering will be the Maori displays, illustrating Native industries and customs —bußock roasting, hakas, pois, and other items. Imbued with the desire to place the Maori queen at the top of the poll, the Natives of Tuahiwi have all. rehearsed and worked hard for this big effort. A special train will leave Christchureh at 10.30 a.m. for Ohoka. KAIAPOI. \ The clectric lights turned on last Thursday were allowed to remain during Friday and Saturday, as if to convince tho public the current was on. TAI TAPU. The Ellesmero Lands Drainage Board met at Tai Tapn on Tuesday, 1 Messrs R. M. Morten (chairman), H. E. Pervman, F. Miller, Jas. Macartney, F. Hubbard, and J. Sharp being present. Correspondence was read from the Department of Internal Affairs, the Commissioner of Crown Lands; and Messrs Harper, Son, and Pascoe, regarding the Commission appointed to deal with the question of the proposed alteration to the boundaries of the district, and the chairman and-secretary were instructed to attend to matters in connexion therewith. Mr J. Mangels was granted permission to fence the river bank adjoining his property, on certain conditions. The secretary reported that tho practice of persons cutting willows on the river bank without permission was becoming a nuisanco, as in some cases branches were allowed to remain in the stream. Instructions were given to prosecute offenders in future. The report stated that various drain and river work was proceeding satisfactorily. Accounts totalling £191 Gs 7d were pasaed for payment. SPRINGSTCLV On Good Friday evening the Broadfield Methodist Church, of the Springston Circuit, celebrated its fifty-first .anniversary by a tea and public meeting. The attendance at the tea was very good, there being many from other parts of the circuit. The public meeting, presided over by the Jlev. W. B. Scott, was well attended, and a good programme was submitted, the following taking part: —-Messrs Savage, Simpson, L. Blakemore, N. Johnson, the llev. W. B. Scott, and Mr Hitchens, whilst the choir rendered several anthems. Misses Henry and Larcombo played the accompaniments. During the evening the Rev. Mr Patterson, Presbyterian minister at Lincoln, gave an address, and the Sunday scnool prizes were distributed among the scholars. MASON'S FEAT. A social evening was held in the Mason's Flat Schoolroom on Friday, to bid farewell to Miss Hickman, who has resigned her position as schoolmistress. Mr W*. Anderson, in presenting Miss Hickman -with a silver tea service, spoke highly of the able and conscientious manner rn which she had carried out her duties for the four years she had been at Mason's Flat._ A very pleasant evening terminated with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the heartiest good wishes of all for Miss Hickman's future welfare. GERALD DvE DISTRICT. Since "the north-west gale and slight rainfall which ended March, fine sunny autumn weather has continued up to date, and so far not any frost of consequence has occurred to check the growth of winter feed. On the hill runs and through the foothill country, from Waihi by Fairfield Downs and the Four Peaks Settlements to Plea-

sant Valley and Gapes Valley, a wonoertul spring is noticeablo upon . the grass lands, and if we are favoured with a warm April, farmers will soon feel far less anxiety for the future off their stock. It is reported that the same satisfactory state of affairs P 1 ®* vails in a wide belt of country extending from Peel Forest across the Raiigitata, and past Anama and Mount Somers to the vioinity of Methven, but elsewher© there is yet little sign ot improvement, and the effects of tho drought are still very evident. On manv of the farms aoout Woodbury, Orari Bridge., Orari, Belfield, Cooper s Creek, and Arundel, it might be said that there is practically no grass feed in the paddocks, and "the prospect for the approaching winter is bv no means good. A day of soaking rain followed by another mild fortnight might solve the difficulty, but something of the kind must happen, very speedily or a serious shortage is plainly in sight. In the neighbourhood of Beautiful Valley, Opuha Bridge, and Skipton, the cooler weather and .heavy dews have produced some alteration for the better in the appearance of the land, but still the outlook is not nearly so encouraging as at this time last year, and, according to two adjoining land owners, ieea must now come nway very quickly if it is to last out until the spring. lh® freshes in the streams have everywhere run down very rapidly, and fears are generally expressed that the drought is again taking a fresh hold. Though the recent rainfall has certainly revived tho root crops in tho Geraldine district to some extent, unfortunately tho majority have not recovered as was hoped, and there is now n 0 doubt that in the ensuing winter good turnips will be scarcer than at anv time within easv memory. Nearer the foothills the crops are somewhat better, but even here most of the roots aro small and contain little feeding. By faT tho greater number of the swede crops are verv poor and stunted, ana though they arc now making some progress, it is over late for them to be , successful. Also, one of the few things favoured by tho dryness of this "worst season on record" is the diamondbacked moth, which is causing extensive mischief. Otherwise, _. e , i washed off much of the aphis blight from the rape fields, and it is noticeable that some of the crops which, seemed quite ruined are now making a vigorous second growth. Ploughing and sowing operations have continued vory actively, and almost every.vhere the land is in excellent working order. Up to date tho total acreage under corn crops is less than usual, but with more favourable working conditions every effort is being made to reduco the shortage, and most of the early-sown oat crops appear to be doing well or better. With a good rainfall within the next fortnight 'to help them forward, there will be no near cause for anxiety on their account, and wherever one notices that rye has been sown for early _ feed tho crop is generally making satisfactory progress. The great scarcity of hands is causing a grave delay in the preparation of the wfieat lands, and at a time when so many different works require attention it is apparently most difficult to procure extra labour for the purpose. At present it is not certain that a greater quantity of wheat will be grown in.the districts about Geraldine, Orari, and Woodbury than in the harvest just finished. For one reason the bad results of this last harvest hare told very heavily on many of the farmers, and the means are lacking though the will is. good. v